One of the things I could never understand was how, in a country famous for its rain, all it takes is for a few weeks of dry weather before we start hearing about water shortages.
I still don't fully understand it but this picture illustrates the problem. This is a lake in Donegal called Lough Keel after about six weeks of mostly dry weather. It's normal level is almost up to the top of the platform. On the second pillar from the left you'll see a red and white bar which is measuring how far the water level has dropped. So far it's about 85 inches.
Part of the problem is that we take our water supply from lakes. These are not just reservoirs. They also have their own ecology which is damaged if the water level drops too much. That is where the panic comes in. While there may still be plenty of water in the lake we can't completely drain it or allow it to drop below a certain level or the lake dies.
After finding out a bit about this I'm now torn between hoping for more nice weather and realising the need for rain. Read more!
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